police custody; heroin; deaths; PWID

The unlinked anonymous monitoring (UAM) survey of people who inject drugs (PWID) is an annual survey with the aim to measure the level of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in this population. The survey also monitors the levels of risk and protective behaviours among PWID.

The survey recruits people who inject drugs that are in contact with a sample of specialist drug services (such as needle and syringe programmes and addiction treatment centres) throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In response to the rising numbers of drug overdose deaths both globally and in the UK, the survey has included questions on non-fatal overdose and naloxone (opioid overdose antidote) administration since 2013. A first summary report on the data generated by these questions is published here.